To evolve and adapt is one of the core characteristics of a human being. However, with the dynamic nature of the industries and the career path, there is a huge division between being a specialist and a polymath who learns different types of skills from different sectors.
In the very first phase of industrialisation, industries required labourers to be divided for tasks and each labourer specialising in their own respective roles only. This led to better and more efficient production of the desired product that also resulted in a better outcome. Moreover, it facilitated employees to develop their own flow and style since they focused on one particular type of task only. However, as time progressed and industrialisation reached a new phase, the demands and expectations from employees have been changing and sprouting.
Sticking to one particular task often leads to boredom for the young generation where employees barely have leisure time and the opportunity to focus on personal development. This leads to the lives of the individuals becoming work centric and as long the type of work does not change, their life turns monotonous, which is one of the main reasons creating inefficiency in certain jobs. The boredom caused from a monotonous job also leads to the loss of sight and purpose for employees which oftentimes compromises the quality of the result they are trying to achieve.
It is also inherent that polymaths tend to think in different perspectives and intend on learning multiple things trying out different arenas of working field, leading to better networking for them and higher opportunities. Historically, the highest renowned achievers of the world have been polymaths who have made their share of mistakes and mastered the skill of multiple arts. The feature does not only translate to a brighter career advancement but also better growth as an individual. Furthermore, even when a person chooses to follow a monopathic model for career advancement, once they advance to a higher position their roles and responsibilities change, in order to adapt to this change in roles it requires to know and be acquainted with different types of skills and knowledge that will help them excel further.
As we enter the fourth phase of industrialisation, adaption and digitisation seem to be taking over the world. While the emerging economies still require and demand specialised labour, the already emerged economies have moved to the kind of economy where every individual must be multi-talented and cope with the changing nature of the markets. Unless they can cope, their development as an employee is restricted. Thus, it is essential for an individual to decide the kind of market they can operate in and consequently chose their industry.
Moreover, all the growing major fields like science, economics, philosophy, business or arts require the co-existence of multiple talents together. These fields are in the hands of constant innovation and challenges. Unless an individual has a broad vision with the purpose of attaining multiple things, they fail to think outside the necessary boxes and remain satisfied with a certain degree of work and knowledge. This can easily lead to stagnation in a field, which in a generation of perpetual evolution is highly discouraged. Once the polymath become a part of the system they bring in diverse challenges and ideas that tend to lead to better innovation prospects and growth. The notion of specialisation in one aspect can oftentimes create hierarchal set up and bigger barriers for individuals who are not specialists.
In a world where change is the only constant, specialisation may soon become of less value and an individual with multiple talents may have more advancements.
The writer is currently a final year undergraduate student of Economics at BRAC University. She can be reached at [email protected]
